Item # 1127, Melatonin

Description:Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain. It helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of it are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Besides its function as synchronizer of the biological clock, melatonin is a powerful free-radical scavenger and wide-spectrum antioxidant. Research has supported the anti-aging properties of melatonin. Consuming melatonin may neutralize oxidative damage and delay the neurodegenerative process of aging.

Applications

Melatonin is taken as a dietary supplement. It is often used to help circadian rhythyms in the elderly and with shift workers who want to adjust their sleeping time. When taken in low doses at the appropriate time, melatonin can help advance or delay the sleep-wake cycle. The effect can last for six hours.